New cameras in my shop – just in time for Xmas!

December 10, 2024December 10, 2024Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I have a few camera sets from my extensive collection just in time for the holiday gift-giving season. Some of these cameras, along with their original boxes, are rare in their mint and new condition. I’ve serviced each one and thoroughly tested them with film where necessary. My Etsy shop is at http://www.ccstudio2380.com.

Classic Canon A-1 with a Canon NFD 50mm f/1.8 lens and limited edition 1980 Winter Olympics Lake Placid lens cap.

A Canon FT QL 35mm SLR. This was released just before the Canon F-1 was released in the summer of 1971. The FT is built like a tank and will probably outlast us all.

A favorite! The 1994 Contax RX is pretty close to the perfect film camera. Add a Contax Carl Zeiss T* lens, and you have photographic excellence.

Attention Pentax fans. This is an Asahi Pentax SL from around 1968. It is in perfect condition inside and out and fully serviced. It is ready for film and ready for your next photo walk.

Rare, rare, and more rare. From 1978, a completely new and never used Nikon F2A with its original box and certified Nikon USA 25th Anniversary Edition.

Canon’s Black Beauty is a close cousin to the famous Canon F-1 but with some significant differences. In addition to a fully manual mode, it can shoot automatically in shutter priority mode. You select the shutter speed, and the camera sets the proper aperture. It can electronically time the shutter to up to a 30-second exposure. It’s one of Canon’s best designs from the mid-1970s.

This is a rare Nikon blue canvas messenger bag. It was released in limited quantities as a promotional item around the same time as the F2A and F2AS in the late 1970s. It’s new and never used, making it a perfect gift for a Nikon collector.

Thanks for stopping by and allowing me to shamelessly promote my camera shop! – Chris

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Comments are always welcomed, as I’ve learned quite a bit from reader feedback. As always, thanks for stopping by, and while you’re at it, feel free to visit my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com (CC Design Studios hosted by Etsy). – Chris Whelan

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, is this blog’s property and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris. Copyright © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

Friday Fotos! – some recent cameras featured from my collection.

December 6, 2024December 6, 2024Chris and Carol Leave a comment

This is a fully dressed Canon F-1. The body is my 1978 original, with the addition of the Canon Servo EE Finder, a Canon FD 55mm f/1.2 chrome nose lens, and Canon Motor Drive MF. It’s crazy heavy.

This is an Asahi Pentax SL from 1968 with a super-sharp Asahi Super-Takumar f/1.8 55mm lens. It’s a basic camera with a mechanical shutter and no built-in meter. It’s a gem in all-black paint. This one is available for purchase in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com.

Officially known as the Canon OD F-1. The ‘OD’ indicates olive drab. It was a limited edition F-1 made in early 1978 and in limited quantities. Possibly just over 2,000 made. I’ve also added a Canon Power Winder F and a Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. lens from 1978. Canon didn’t color-match any accessories or lenses to this special version. Sharp and cool.

**Photographic Excellence**
One of the reasons I enjoy using my Fujifilm X-T2 is that it handles like my favorite Contax RTS. I use the Yashica lens and its cousin, the Carl Zeiss Planar f/1,7 50mm lens, equally. Both are made in the same factory from similar-quality glass. By the way, the Yashica f/1.7 lens is heavier than the Planar if weight equals quality.
Fujifilm X-T2 from 2016 and the Contax RTS from 1976.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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I’m back with more cameras, photo gear, lenses, and of course, more images!

December 5, 2024December 5, 2024Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Fernandina Beach (Florida) Historic District.

Contax RX
Contax Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 Lens.
Fujifilm Neopan Professional Acros 100II Film.
Straight scans from The Darkroom – no editing. I couldn’t be happier with the results.

Nassau County (Florida) Historic Courthouse on Centre Street.

It is a beautiful and well-balanced camera set. The RX was first released in 1996, towards the end of Contax’s 35mm film era. Yashica was long gone by then.

If you’re in Fernandina, you must have a few pirates along the street. Shown here just outside the Palace Saloon.

Our pirate friend in color. Canon EOS R with Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens.

There you have it. My latest photowalk in our lovely historic district. If you are ever near Amelia Island, you must pop on by for a visit. I highly recommend the Canon EOS R system, lenses, and Contax RX. The Carl Zeiss lenses made for the Contax line are absolutely incredible.

Parting shot.

My limited edition Nikon F2A 25th Anniversary set is in my camera shop. This is the one if you want to purchase a completely new and unused camera from 1978.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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My Asahi Pentax H2

August 16, 2024August 16, 2024Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

My 1959-ish Asahi Pentax H2 with a fabulous Asahi Auto-Takumar f3.5 35mm lens and all of the period correct bits.
I’m a big fan of wide-angle lenses on 35mm cameras, even though a 35 is on the upper end of the focal length scale. Those few extra millimeters can make all the difference in group shots or when working in tight spaces in our historic district.
www.ccstudio2380.com

A modern-made leather half-case contrasts nicely with the vintage satin chrome metalwork.

Asahi Optical Auto-Takumar f3.5 35mm lens. Surprisingly, the early Takumar lenses didn’t usually have a matching Asahi Pentax lens cap. Some caps just had Takumar on them.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Contax RTS Serial Number(s)

January 18, 2024January 18, 2024Chris and Carol 3 Comments

In the Contax RTS instruction booklet, the baseplate pictured either has a “real” serial number or one “made up” by the marketing department. RTS models out in the wild don’t have a serial number that is easy to decode (date manufactured), but this one does, at least if you know how to read Yashica serial numbers. I interpret this SN as February 1975 (502), and its number is 166.

The original instruction booklet (dated 06/76) has an 8-digit SN.

My RTS baseplate has serial number 087024, which looks nothing like the serial number in the instructions.

Here is a baseplate from an RTS-Fundus Scientific / Medical camera. I see 091238. I don’t see a date code in there – do you?

Anyway, this is just a quick post to gather my thoughts. Do you own a Contax RTS first model? I’d like to see more serial numbers as a pattern may appear. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Canon ‘Super Set’

November 20, 2023November 20, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I’ve decided to part with some of the more important cameras in my collection and this set certainly qualifies.

None better… Canon F-1 ‘Super Set’. Canon F-1 body (1978), Canon FD 55mm f1.2 Chrome Nose lens (1972), Canon Motor Drive MF with Grip MF, and finally a Canon Servo EE Finder. Everything is part of my collection and everything is working as designed. A tribute to Canon’s designers and engineers.
I’ll be listing this set soon in my camera shop at www.ccstudio2380.com

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Comments are always welcomed as I’ve learned quite a bit from reader feedback. As always, thanks for stopping by, and while you’re at it, feel free to visit my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com (CC Design Studios hosted by Etsy). – Chris Whelan

Fujifilm Nexia Cameras – 3200 ixZ

September 18, 2023November 5, 2023Chris and Carol 2 Comments

When it was released in 2000 it listed for about $400 USD.

Like it was carved out of a block of stainless steel –

Brand new Fujifilm Nexia 3200 ixZ MRC APS film camera from 2000. Just before the digital camera revolution took hold, Fujifilm designed these super sharp and compact cameras with loads of features. This one features a sharp Super EBC Fujinon 23 to 70mm Zoom (7 elements/7 groups) f4.8 lens which has better specs than the popular Fujifilm Tiara.
It’s available in my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com along with 4 other Nexia models all still new in the box and in mint condition.
Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

3 little Yashicas from the 1960s

July 23, 2023July 27, 2023Chris and Carol 2 Comments

Yashica Minimatic-S. A fully automatic (no autofocus) 35mm rangefinder was released in February 1963. The camera set both the aperture and shutter speed.

Yashica M. Released in June 1960. 35mm rangefinder with a sharp and fast Yashinon f1.9 lens. The “M” was also known as the 35M and 35 Model M.

Yashica Half 17. Capable of shooting up to 72 images on a roll of 36-exposure 35mm film.

Each camera uses selenium cell light meters to assist with setting the proper exposure. If you can find working examples of these classics you’ll enjoy a whole new level of vintage film shooting as the Yashinon lenses are sharp, colorful, and contrasty. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Fujica GW690 Professional

July 17, 2023July 17, 2023Chris and Carol 1 Comment

Fujica GW690 Professional 6x9cm Camera
Fully Tested and Working Perfectly

This is the famous “Texas Leica” camera
from the late 1970s. It’s super simple
to use and produces some of the sharpest
and most detailed images imaginable.

*This is from my personal collection
and I’ve used this camera many times over
the years. It works perfectly.

It takes 120 roll films which are still made today.
It requires no batteries.
It has a leaf shutter in the lens – simple and accurate.
It’s available in my camera shop at www.ccstudio2380.com
Thanks, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Yashica 35 M

June 11, 2023July 11, 2023Chris and Carol Leave a comment

M for mysterious? Maybe not mysterious but missing. It’s not a camera that gets a lot of attention as it was dwarfed by the more popular Minister line. It was one of the first Yashica rangefinder cameras made with a built-in light meter (exposure meter) released at about the same time as the first Minister with the f/2.8 lens.

The exposure meter is located just behind the light gathering window (upper left). That’s what Yashica calls it in the instruction booklet. The meter is a selenium cell that is powered by light so no worries about needing a battery. BTW, the serial number on the booklet camera indicates it was made in January 1960. It’s been reported that the camera was released in June 1960. That’s a big gap even by Yashica’s standards.

The serial number on mine is M2101662 which decodes to October 1962.

The lens is what differentiates this model from the earlier Minister model. The Model M is fitted with a faster Yashinon f/1.9 4.5cm lens and a Copal SVL shutter with speeds from Bulb to 1/500.

In this image, the exposure meter indicates an ‘LVS’ setting of 14 at ASA 200. To set the proper exposure you’d simply turn the outer ring on the lens to match the LVS number and the camera would be properly set (see below).

LVS set to 12 would set the shutter to fire at 1/125 and the aperture at f/5.6.

It’s a fun camera to use as it’s about as old school as you can get. The lens is clean and clear, and the light meter works. It’s available in my camera shop CC Design Studios at http://www.ccstudio2380.com which is hosted by Etsy. Thanks for stopping by, Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Yashica cameras and so much more!

Tag Cameras

New cameras in my shop – just in time for Xmas!

Friday Fotos! – some recent cameras featured from my collection.

I’m back with more cameras, photo gear, lenses, and of course, more images!

My Asahi Pentax H2

Contax RTS Serial Number(s)

Canon ‘Super Set’

Fujifilm Nexia Cameras – 3200 ixZ

3 little Yashicas from the 1960s

Fujica GW690 Professional

Yashica 35 M